Blower head for flashlight

ABSTRACT

A blower head for attachment to the battery housing of an ordinary flashlight and including a centrifugal blower which is driven by a motor contained within a motor housing which is itself adapted to mate with the battery housing and includes electrical contacts adapted to engage the battery terminal and the switching electrode of the battery housing in substantially the same manner as does the lamp assembly of the flashlight.

'Goossens May 7; 1974 [54] BLOWER HEAD FOR FLASHLIGHT FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS [76] Inventor: Dmald Lemma"! 6005513115, 691 795,118 5/1958 Great Britain 417/411 Lakehaven Dr., Sunnyvale, Calif. 94086 Primary ExaminerC. J. Husar v [22] Filed: Sept. 5, 1972 Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Claude A. S. Hamrick; pp Nolz 286,011 Thomas E. Schatzel 521 11s. c1. 417/411, 415/206 [57] ABSTRACT [58] Field of Search F04b/17/00; 417/411, 234; A blower head for attachment to the battery housing 416/110; 415/206 of an ordinary flashlight and including a centrifugal blower which is driven by a motor contained within a [56] References Cited motor housing which is itself adapted to mate with the UNITED STATES PATENTS battery housing and includes electrical contacts 3,099,386 7/1963 Pieper 417/411 f to engage the battery terminal the i 2,595,406 5/1952 popovich I h v H 417M mg electrode of the battery housmg 1n substantlally 2,960,321 11/1960 stoma. I 417,411 the same manner as does the lamp assembly of the 2,961,129 11/1960 BullOCk 417/411 flashlight 3,647,323 3/1972 Thomas 417/411 3,697,198 10/1972 Holder, Jr 417/411 5 Clam, 4 Drawmg Flames BLOWER HEAD FOR FLASHLIGHT BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Although hand-held blowers have been known for some time in the prior art, these devices have usually been provided in the form of a complete unit in which the motor and power source are contained in a single handle portion which is affixed to the blower portion. Whereas such structure generally makes for a compact and perhaps easily manufactured unit, it suffers from certain disadvantages. One disadvantage is that the unit requires a rather large storage space since no portion thereof is adapted for other uses. Another disadvantage is that each of the several device components are limited to a single use. Still another disadvantage of the prior art devices is that since all components must be purchased together, the devices are expensive.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION It is therefore a primary objective of the present invention to provide a compact motorized blower head which is adapted to replace the lamp unit of an ordinary household flashlight.

Briefly, the present invention relates to a blower head including a centrifugal blower which is attached to a cylindrical motor housing having one end necked-down 1 and adapted for threaded engagement with the lamp assembly end of an ordinary flashlight. The blower unit is typically a centrifugal blower having an impellor attached to the armature of a DC motor contained within the blower housing. Electrical contacts are provided on the necked down portion of the housing to engage the power supply terminals of the flashlight normally used to contact the lamp assembly.

Among the advantages of the present invention is the provision of a unitary blower head which requires little storage space, is adapted to mate with the battery containing portion of ordinary flashlights and is relatively inexpensive,

Other advantages of the present invention will no doubt become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art afte'r having read the following detailed disclosure of a preferred embodiment which is illustrated in the several figures of the drawing.

In the drawing:

FIG. I is a schematic representation of a blower head in accordance with the present invention shown mated to a partially broken schematic representation of an ordinary flashlight battery housing; 7

FIG. 2 is an end view of one end of the blower head illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an end view of the opposite end of the blower head illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a cross section taken along the line 4-4 of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to FIG. I of the drawing, a blower head in accordance with the present invention is shown in mating engagement with a standard flashlight battery housing 12 containing batteries 14. Housing 12 includes a switching mechanism 16 coupled to a resilient switching electrode 18 which normally engages a lamp contact. The ground connection from the batteries 14 to the switch mechanism 16 is made through a spring connector 20 and the housing 12, if it is made of metal, or through an additional electrical lead (not shown) if housing 12 is of a non-metallic configuration.

Referring now additionally to FIGS. 2-4, the blower head 10 includes a centrifugal blower portion 22, a cylindrical motor ousing 24, and an electrical motor 26. In the preferred embodiment, the blower portion 22 may include a prefabricated centrifugal unit of the type manufactured by the Torrington Manufacturing Company of Torrington, Conn., having a scroll housing 28 and a squirrel cage impellor 30, or may be of any other suitable design. Impeller 30 is mounted to the drive shaft 32 of motor 26 and when driven thereby causes air to be drawn into the inlet 34 of housing 28 and to be expelled through the outlet 36.

Motor housing 24, is, as illustrated in the preferred embodiment generally cylindrical in configuration and has an externally threaded midportion 37 for threadably mating with the internal threads 38 provided in the end offlashlight housing 12. One end of motor housing 24 is secured to blower housing 28 at 40 by a suitable mechanical fastening means (not shown), such as bolts or by a suitable cementing technique using an epoxy cement or the like. Alternatively, housing 24 could be formed integral with blower housing 28 in a suitable manner.

The opposite end 41 of housing 24 is provided with a closure 42 having a pair of openings 44 extending therethrough. Affixed to the outer surface of end 41 at its outer periphery is an annular metallic contact ring 46 or other suitable contact means for engaging electrode 18. Note that the end 41 of housing 24 is tapered at its outer periphery 52 so that when motor housing 24 is threaded into flashlight housing 12, contact 46 is moved into contact with the resilient electrode 18 so as to make good electrical connection therebetween. Protruding from closure 42 along the axis of housing 24 is a stud 48 for carrying a second metallic contact 50. As housing 24 is threaded into flashlight housing 12 contact 50 engages the centerpost 15 of battery 14.

A small DC motor such as the RE-360 or RE-56O manufactured by Mabuchi Motors of New York City, N. Y., is positioned within the chamber formed by the inner walls of housing 24 and is secured thereto by a pair of screws 54(FIG. 1). As previously indicated, the motor drive shaft 32, which is affixed to the armature of motor 26 is driveably secured to impellor 30. The

energy input leads 56 and 58 of motor 26 are affixed,

by soldering or other suitable means, to contact 46 and contact 50 respectively.

In operation, once the blower head 10 is threaded into the open end of flashlight housing 12, the device may be actuated by pushing switch 16 into the ON position, completing an electrical circuit from the center post 15 of batteries 14 through contact 50, lead 58, the windings of motor 26, lead 56, contact 46, electrode 18, and thence through switch 16 to the opposite post of batteries 14, thus energizing motor 26 and causing it to drive impellor 30 at a suitable speed, for example, 8,000 RPMs. The rotating impellor 30 draws air into inlet 34, increases its velocity by the pushing action of the impellor blades and thereby causes it to be expelled from blower housing 22 through the outlet 36. To terminate operation of the device, the user need only re-' turn switch 16 to the OFF position to interrupt the energizing circuit.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the present invention provides a very simple blower head which is adapted to mate with a conventional flashlight housing and to be energized by a pair of 1 /2 volt D batteries or the like. The apparatus has sundry uses such as, for example, as a dusting tool, as -a hair drying blower, or as a blower for use in starting the burning of charcoal in a barbeque grill, etc.

Although a single preferred embodiment of the present invention has been disclosed hereinabove, it is contemplated that various modifications of the invention will becomeapparent to those skilled in the art after having read the foregoing description. Accordingly, it is intended that the description not be considered limiting, and that the appended claims be interpreted to cover all alterations and modifications thereof which .fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

l. A blower head for attachment to the screw threaded end of a flashlight housing in place of the lamp assembly normally attached thereto, comprising:

a blower means including an impellor housing and an impellor enclosed therewithin;

a cylindrical motor housing affixed about one end to an electrical motor disposed within said chamber of said motor housing and having its drive shaft projecting from said one end and affixed to said impellor, said motor having a first electrical energizing terminal coupled to said first contact and a second electrical energizing terminal coupled to said second contact, whereby said blower head is energized when the flashlight switch is in the ON position and is de-energized when the flashlight switch is in the OFF position.

2. A blower head as recited in claim 1 wherein said first contact includes an annular metallic ring attached to said opposite end of said motor housing and said second contact includes a metallic electrode disposed concentric with said annular metallic ring.

3. A blower head as recited in claim 1 wherein said blower means is a centrifugal device having a scroll shaped impellor housing and a squirrel cage impellor.

4. A blower head as recited in claim 1 wherein the shaft axis of said motor is disposed concentric with the longitudinal axis of said motor housing.

5. A blower head as recited in claim 1 wherein said housing further includes a necked down end portionto which said first contact and said second contact are affixed;

said first contact includes an annular metallic ring attached to said opposite end of said motor housing and said second contact includes a metallic electrode disposed concentric with said annular metallic ring;

said blower means is a centrifugal device having a scroll shaped impellor housing and a squirrel cage impellor engaged to said drive shaft with the drive shaft disposed concentric with the longitudinal axis of said motor housing. 

1. A blower head for attachment to the screw threaded end of a flashlight housing in place of the lamp assembly normally attached thereto, comprising: a blower means including an impellor housing and an impellor enclosed therewithin; a cylindrical motor housing affixed about one end to said impellor housing, the motor housing including an externally threaded mid-portion and an opposite end, the threaded midportion being adapted to mate with the internally screw threaded end of the flashlight housing, said opposite end having a first electrical contact for engaging the switching electrode of the flashlight and a second electrical contact for engaging the centerpost of a battery contained within said flashlight housing, the housing further forming an internal chamber opening to said one end; and an electrical motor disposed within said chamber of said motor housing and having its drive shaft projecting from said one end and affixed to said impellor, said motor having a first electrical energizing terminal coupled to said first contact and a second electrical energizing terminal coupled to said second contact, whereby said blower head is energized when the flashlight switch is in the ON position and is de-energized when the flashlight switch is in the OFF position.
 2. A blower head as recited in claim 1 wherein said first contact includes an annular metallic ring attached to said opposite end of said motor housing and said second contact includes a metallic electrode disposed concentric with said annular metallic ring.
 3. A blower head as recited in claim 1 wherein said blower means is a centrifugal device having a scroll shaped impellor housing and a squirrel cage impellor.
 4. A blower head as recited in claim 1 wherein the shaft axis of said motor is disposed concentric with the longitudinal axis of said motor housing.
 5. A blower head as recited in claim 1 wherein said housing further includes a necked down end portion to which said first contact and said second contact are affixed; said first contact includes an annular metallic ring attached to said opposite end of said motor housing and said second contact includes a metallic electrode disposed concentric with said annular metallic ring; said blower means is a centrifugal device having a scroll shaped impellor housing and a squirrel cage impellor engaged to said drive shaft with the drive shaft disposed concentric with the longitudinal axis of said motor housing. 